Brutal but Beautiful

That’s how I think of the desert. And we have spent a lot of time in the desert lately. We moved to a spot in Nevada, but it was still close enough to California to go see a couple more things. I kept hearing that Mono Lake was one place I had to visit. We could see it for miles and miles as we approached from Nevada. I’m still amazed by how flat a lot of our country is and how straight the roads. Not like that where I grew up. Well, Mono Lake was indeed beautiful.

This beautiful lake is 2.5 times saltier than the ocean. The park ranger said we should dip our hands in the water and taste it. But I just couldn’t! It was covered with flies and filled with tiny shrimp. Some people call it a dead sea, but there were lots of tiny creatures. The rock formations used to be covered by water. The lake keeps shrinking.

From there we drove on the Tioga Pass. Such a gorgeous drive! We stopped along the way for geocaches. One was on the Nunatak nature trail. In the description of the geocache, it was stated that it was a beautiful trail that we would most likely have to ourselves. Well, when we stopped there were several people milling around with fishing poles. It soon became evident that they were going to fish at the little lake right off the road. We did indeed have the trail all to ourselves! It was cool and refreshing to sit by the lake surrounded by mountains.

We kept driving the pass and realized that we were almost to Yosemite. I have always wanted to go there and it has never worked out. Earlier in the spring, it was closed because of Covid 19. We drove towards the gate to see if it was open now. The ranger nicely explained that it was open, but only if you had a reservation.

Awww, I got so close! I snapped that photo as we passed through the gate, but only to turn our huge truck around on the other side. I did open the door and stepped outside….just to say I have been in Yosemite. Lol. After we exited, I took this shot looking back towards that iconic national park.

We still had some daylight on this Saturday, so we drove to the town of Bodie. That place is in the middle of nowhere! And it is a bonafide ghost town. The drive to the town was pretty, but hot and long. Finally, the road turned to dirt and was like a washboard. But we made it there. I wondered how the people in wagons did it.

Bodie was a booming mining town at one time, but it ran out. I thought of all the people that arrived there all excited to make their fortune. They happily built homes in a harsh atmosphere to fulfill big dreams. But when the mines stopped producing, they left.

Bodie is a state park and kept in “arrested decay”. They keep the buildings from falling over, but have not touched what is inside. As I looked through the windows, I was astonished at what those people left behind: furniture, decorations, clothes, equipment, books, cars, even eyeglasses and an organ. Did they all die from an epidemic? (Not sure why my thoughts would have gone in that direction.)

But no. The ranger explained that it was very costly to take anything out of such a remote place. No towns were close by. The roads were awful. And there were steep fees for anything carried on those roads. It seems that they left with only the essentials. It made me realize, anew, how little the things we accumulate actually mean. They left, knowing that they could start over somewhere else.

Speaking of abandoned houses, we saw another along the highway in Nevada. I just had to stop at such an interesting place!

Thunder Mountain Monument in Imlay, NV, began when Frank Van Zant came to a stop with his camper. He decided to stay there and build something to honor the native Americans that he so identified with. Such an intriguing place with artistic faces throughout and a beautiful use of colored bottles in the concrete walls.

It got me to thinking about our travels with our camper and wondering where we would end up and what we might build. One never knows…. Traveling and pioneering has always interested me and we learned that we were camped near ruts made by the California Trail. We drove to where they were supposed to be and think we found them. Or maybe we just climbed to the top of the mountain and walked on ATV trails. Either way, it was fun to think of all the cattle that had been driven to the area to drink at the wells.

Next we headed to Utah. As we drove, we saw a huge white area in the distance. Thankfully, there was a rest stop where we learned that it is the Bonneville Salt Flats. Last year, we had stopped at several places that said they were formed in the Bonneville flood. Well, now we could see where all the water for that flood originated. What used to be a humongous salt lake was just a crust of salt. Fascinating. We had once watched a movie, The World’s Fastest Indian, about a man who came from New Zealand to race his Indian motorcycle. He did it on this very salt flat and set numerous speed records.

Next stop was Provo, Utah. It was only supposed to be a restful area on the way, but we found it to be a beautiful area with lots to do. We saw Bridal Veil Falls.

And rode on what I think is the most beautiful biking path that we have ridden yet.

We were in Utah, ultimately on our way to Illinois to see more family, but Utah is 60% public lands with several national parks that I have wanted to visit. I knew it was hot there in the summer, but circumstances dictated our arrival there in July. Can we say hot? Brutally hot? First we stopped outside of the parks to get our 1,000th geocache! Geocaching has added so much to our fun, so we were happy to have a special place to get this milestone.

So, on to Arches National Park!

I would have loved to hike to the Delicate Arch and stood beneath it. But there was no way I could tolerate the heat to do it. I had to be satisfied with using my zoom lens to get this shot.

We stayed long enough in the day that it started to cool down. We did hike to landscape arch. I loved all the colors and rock formations. Such beauty.

Matt’s favorite was Double Arch. That one we did hike right underneath. So cool!

Near where we were camped, we found the Sego Canyon Petroglyphs.

I loved viewing artwork, some which is thought to be 2,000 years old.

Next was Canyonlands National Park.

I had read that it was the least favorite of the Utah national parks, but I sure loved it!

So much variety!

With a beautiful arch, that I think has become my favorite so far.

While at the arch on the cliff, we witnessed a beautiful rainbow. I was concerned for my brother who was in ICU and very ill. This lovely rainbow felt like a God hug. I know He is watching over my brother and taking care of him. I needed that rainbow.

That evening, Matt was able to get a photo of the NEOWISE comet through his scope. We were in a dark sky area and could see it well with naked eye.

On to Colorado! I was eager to leave the harshness of the desert and see some green trees! Our first stop was near Ouray, CO. I thought we would drive on the Million Dollar Highway, but Matt was working. And we both found that we just didn’t feel like we needed the adrenaline rush after all we had done lately. But, there was yet another national park nearby, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park.

We had just a few days before seen Canyonlands, so I didn’t even want to go. But Matt insisted and I’m so glad he did. I guess each canyon is different!

Every turn and short hike revealed amazing beauty.

I love rocks, and this canyon had beautiful pink stripes running through black walls. I’m so glad I went.

We did hike above Ouray and saw it nestled in the mountains. So pretty.

I think that switchback is part of the Million Dollar highway. So at least I saw part of it. And finally, we are now camped in Estes Park and I am eagerly awaiting for Matt to take vacation days so we can explore! It did give me a good oppportunity to relive those harsh days in the desert. I’m loving the cooler weather. I even have window open instead of AC! I’m where I belong…in the mountains. But so glad I saw the brutal beauty of the desert.